allen



2 Sheets Sheet 1.

(No Mdel.)

s. L. ALLEN.

SLBD.

Patented Aug. 23. 1887.

....mme Y Pr vl/nl\ (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. S. L. ALLEN.

WnTNESsEE.

C/NK

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE..

SAMUEL L. ALLEN, OF GINNAMINSON, NEW JERSEY.

SLED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,802, dated August 23, 1887.

Application filed February 9, 1887. Serial No. 227,010.

sist cf a platform of variable length supportedv at either end upon shortsleds or bobs, either or both of which may be revolved, as desired, upon a vertical axis to steer the sled; and it consists of the devices and combinations herevinafter described and shown, reference being had to the annexed drawings, and to the igures and letters marked thereon, forming a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of my improved sled. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the portable short sleds or bobs as folded together for transportation. Fig. 3 is a sectional view ofthe folding seat and the inclined springbars supporting it on the line m x, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is asection on the line g/ y, Fig. 2, showing the kingbolts and locking device, whereby the bobs are adjustably at- Y tached to the seat.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line ze, Fig. 2, showing the method of securing frame of bobs, 86e.

'My improved sled consists of a folding seat, A, of any desired length, which is supported upon the adjustable folding bobs B and B. rlhe seat A is preferably composed of heavy cloth or plush backed by one or more thickncsses of canvas to give it strength.

In Fig. 3, which is a section of the seat A, a is the cloth or plush seat, and a is the canvas backing. These are fastened at either side to the spring-bars a2 and a3, which are preferably placed in an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 3. To the spring-bars a2 and as are secured the cross-benches a4 and ci, each bench being secured to both spring-bars near their ends, thereby securely holding the spring bars in proper position relative to each other and stretching the cloth seat a between them.

I preferably so attach the springbars to the cross-benches that they may be conveniently detached,and so allow the cloth seat and springbars to be folded together.

(No model.)

The spring-bars al and c3 are provided with stanchions c, a7, as, a, c, and als, and with a hole, al, at their anterior ends, which serves to support a continuous piece of rope, c, which forms the side rails and foot-rests, as shown in Fig. l.

' The bobs B and B' are preferably oi'steel 5 but any suitable material may be used. The strips forming the runners b, top pieces, b, cross-bars b2, and the legs or braces b3 are preferably hollowed and struck up to give them strength with lightness. The cross-benches b4 are se cured to the bobs with bolts, as shown in Fig. l, and have a raking position inclined to the rear. As the sled when in use is moving downward on an inclined plane, this raking position rearward gives a firm brace to the seat, and at the same time a very elastic one, as the braces are in the proper position to exert their full elasticity, the weight acting vertically on top of the brace.

To the ends of the two rear cross-bars of the forward bob are secured the foot-rests bwhich can be used for steering, and, being sunk, as shown, do not interfere with folding. The swinging braces b6 b are attached to a bolt, e, at the rear of the forward bob and hook into holes provided for them in the crossibench b4; or these braces may be attached to the crossbench Zf and hook into the bob; or both ends of the braces may be securely attached. rlhe legs or braces b5 are preferably riveted to the run ners b, and preferably bolted to the top` pieces and cross-bars. The mode of attachment is shown in Fig. 5, in which c is the bolt, b the top piece, and b" the cross-bar. The bolts c c c being slightly loosened and the swinging braces b6 detached, the bob may be folded together, as shown in Fig. 2.

The cross-benches b4 are each provided with a king-bolt, F, which fits into a corresponding hole in the cross-bench, c or a5, opposing it.

The king-bolt F has preferably a lug, f, on one side of it, which will just pass through a slot, f', in the bench a or a5. The slot f and the lug f are so placed that in order to make them correspond, and so remove the king-bolt F from its hole, it is necessary to turn the bob half-way round, or so that it shall point exactly to the rear; or the attachment can be as well and quickly made by posts with a'tongue IOO and other means, the object being a quick and positive adjustment. The caps f 2 are screwed to the cross-bench, as shown in Fig. 4.

The extension arms h h are bolted to the 5 spring-bars a2 and co3, and to their ends are pivoted the steering handles or levers H and t H', which are connected to the forward crossbar, b, by the ropes r and r.

To the front bob are attached the guide- Io ropes r2 and r3, connecting with the rear bob,

substantially as shown in Fig. l.

I preferably arrange the bobs as shown, that both sleds may steer the same w ay at the same time, both to the right or both to the left, and

be controlled by one steersman. To the front ends of the runners of the forward bob are attached the ends of the steering or drawing rope R. The sledl may be steered by the steeringfrope R, or by the handles H 2o and H, `or by the foot-rests bf b5, as desired.

As one object of my invention is to produce a light portable sled, I have so constructed it that it can be easily folded into a compact form. To do this, rst unhook the wire steering-ropes attached to the levers H H and the guide-ropes of the rear bob; then turn both bobs roundy with their front ends pointing backward, so as to allow the head of the kingbolt of each bob to leave its appropriate open- 3o ing in the bench of the seat, which, with the benches attached, can then be removed from the bobs. One end of each bench being loosened from the spring-bars, the seatis in readiness to be folded. The braces being unhooked,

3 5 the bobs are folded together, as shown n Fig. 2, the whole being inclosed within the folding seat.

l. A seat consisting of bars and any flexible material, said bars having their tops beveled 4o or being at an inclined position tothe flexible material when stretched, whereby the flexible material, when in use, does not come in contact with the said bars except at its eXtreme outer edge, substantially as described. 45

2. The seat of a sled provided with singleloop stanchions'a6 a7, double-loop stanchions as a a a, and holes al", which are connected with suitable material, whereby there-is formed a set of double side rails, substantially as de- 5cI scribed.

3. In a sled, a seat and a bob provided with a king-bolt, F, having a lug, f, and a slot, f', whereby the bob is iirmly'held to the seat and quickly detached therefrom, substantially as described.

4. In a sled, the combination, with the sled and seat, of backward-raking benches,substantially as described.

5. In a sled, aseat provided with eXtension 6o arms Yh h', having pivoted thereto steeringhandles H H', the ropes rr', and a bob, substantially as described.

6. A sled consisting of a folding'fiexible seat connected to spring-bars which are provided with pivoted cross-benches, in combination with folding bobs, substantially as described.

t In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

` SAMUEL L. ALLEN. Witnesses:

WM. B. H. Dowsn, M. W. MARsToN.' 

